plains and the lowlands over which they go on foot or on horseback, or by steamer and car, and so also with the mountains they climb and the deserts they traverse upon camels. They study the civilization of the various peoples while amongst them, learning how each is governed, how educated, and all about its industrial life, and especially those features of it which are more or less related to the United States.
The changes of this twentieth century which are still going on in the various countries of Asia are made prominent, and also the influence which those changes may have upon us and the rest of the world. In the description of each country, the author has aimed to leave in the mind of the pupil a definite whole comprising the things he should know concerning it.
The book is to a large extent the result of the original researches of the author, who has made repeated tours to the countries described, including two journeys around the world, during each of which Asia formed a large part. Many of the descriptions were written on the ground amid the scenes pictured, and the most of the illustrations are from photographs made by the author especially for this volume.
To make the text easier to read, the pronunciation of the more difficult geographical names and foreign words is indicated, using Webster's diacritical marks.
